U.S. Army Issues New “Individual Carbine” Draft RFP (Request For Proposal): How will the Army’s Next Carbine Improve on the Colt M4/M4A1 Carbine, and will it still be an AR? DR has some ideas…

About a week ago, on January 31, 2011, the U.S. Army issued a Draft Request For Proposal (RFP) W15QKN-11-R-F003 for an “Individual Carbine” to supposedly replace the Colt M4/M4A1 Carbine, a direct-gas-impingement (DGI) AR-15 carbine configured to U.S. military specifications. Of course, the Army looking for an “Individual Carbine”, or “Next Carbine”, as an M4/M4A1 replacement is old news. Let’s not forget that the Army issued Solicitation Number: W15QKN-10-X-0455 for “Small Arms Technology – Individual Carbine” (sound familiar?) on May 27, 2010. That was eight months ago. Before that, on February 6, 2010, almost exactly one year ago, the Army had issued a sources sought notice for a “M4 Carbine Modification Kit” to improve/upgrade the M4/M4A1 Carbine. Sixteen months before that, on August 22, 2008, the Army had issued a sources sought notice for an “Improved Carbine and Subcompact Individual Weapon System”.

So, this whole thing really started two and a half years ago. I’ll cut to the chase. I don’t think the Army is going to replace the M4/M4A1 in the traditional sense of going to a whole new weapons platform (non-AR). I think they’ll perhaps improve/upgrade the current system with various components and coatings and perhaps contract it to multiple manufacturers, but that’s about it. Whatever happens, the end result will most-likely be an improved AR-platform (AR-15 platform) weapon. Here are the potential improvement/upgrade nominees:

1) M4A1 Carbine-Type True Full-Auto Capability and Heavier-Profile Barrel. The M4’s current 3-round burst feature would go the way of the Dodo, as it should. The 3-round burst is not only the worst and dumbest thing about the M4, it also makes for a lousy semi-auto trigger pull. If you’re going to put a burst limiter on a weapon, better to go with a 2-round burst in addition to a full-auto setting, not instead of it. An M4A1/IAR (Infantry Automatic Rifle)-type full-auto capability will require a heavy-profile (or, at least heavier-profile) machine gun barrel

3) Multi-Caliber and Multi-Operating-System Capability/Modularity. The new Colt CM901 7.62mm NATO battle rifle/carbine/SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) that’s convertible into a 5.56mm NATO assault rifle/carbine/SBR is a prime example of this movement. Since the CM901 is an AR platform weapon, you can pre-zero your optics for each caliber and length upper receiver, so you can quickly swap out uppers for different and specific missions. The CM901 will also be an operating system-convertible weapon, in the sense that it can utilize the Colt APC (Advanced Piston Carbine) and Colt AHC (Advanced Hybrid Carbine) systems, in addition to Colt’s legacy DGI system. Or, you can stick an Adams Arms piston-driven AR upper, LWRC piston upper, or POF piston upper on the Colt CM901 lower, if you’d like.

5) Mid-Length Gas System and Barrel. All you need is a mid-length gas tube/barrel setup. The weapon would stay direct-gas-impingement, but the mid-length system would provide for a “smoother-shooting” weapon, where the felt-recoil impulse is spread out over more time.

The three primary combat-relevant advantages to the gas piston/op-rod system over the direct-gas-impingement system are 1) enhanced reliability with short, sub-12.5″ SBR barrel and muzzle can (silencer/sound suppressor) attached, 2) the “over the beach” capability of being able to fire the weapon immediately after bringing it up out of the water without causing a catastrophic failure, and 3) being able to go more rounds without any cleaning. With a DGI weapon, you have to shake the water out of the barrel in order to be able to safely fire the weapon. It should be noted that a properly sprung and maintained DGI AR carbine/SBR can be fired for thousands of rounds without cleaning.

7) 16″ barrel instead of 14.5″ barrel. Believe it or not, 16 inches offers just enough of a velocity and range advantage over the 14.5″ barrel to be considered combat-significant by some pretty experienced and knowledgeable people DR knows. Theoretically, the Army could also provide operators with a second/replacement SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) upper receiver with a 10.5-12.5″ barrel, so they can swap out uppers with pre-zero’d combat optics, depending on the mission-specific requirements.

While we were at SOFIC 2010, the Smith & Wesson (S&W) M&P AR carbines/SBRs Defense Review viewed and handled sported both FailZero nickel-boron-coated internals AND and what DR understood to be an anti-IR external coating (unconfirmed/unverified).

10) Monolithic Rail System. Companies like LMT and Colt already offer AR rifles/carbines/SBRs with monolithic Mil-Std-1913 “Picatinny” quad rail systems, and there seems to be a movement toward monolithic rails for the AR rifle platform. A monolithic rail means that the rail system is integral with the upper receiver, i.e., all one piece.

Synopsis:
Added: Jan 31, 2011 8:58 am
This is a DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) W15QKN-11-R-F003 for the Individual Carbine (IC). This notice also serves as the official announcementof the Industry Day (Pre-proposal Conference) for the IC program. Thisannouncement is issued for planning purposes only and constitutes a requestfor exchange of information pursuant to FAR 15.201. The purpose of exchanginginformation is to both improve the understanding of Government requirements byindustry, and improve Government knowledge of industry capabilities. Offerorsare directed to NOT submit proposals at this time.

The Government has determined a need to find the best IC weapon that provides the best value to the Government. The Individual Carbine will enable the engagement of enemy combatants with a highly reliable weapon system throughoutthe range of military operations and environments. The IC will also possessthe ability to utilize current and future weapon accessories and opticsthrough the use of an integrated rail system. The IC will replace selectedcurrent capability weapon system(s) and leverage commercial technologyadvancements. The IC requirements support future system enhancements foraccuracy, lethality, reliability, signature suppression, ammunitionimprovements, maintenance and other weapon/accessory technologies.

This IC DRAFT RFP, for the Individual Carbine IC, is issued under a Full and Open Competition environment, subject to FAR part 15. The Government intendsto award up to three Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) typecontracts, with a final down select to be made to a single contractor fortheir design. All resulting delivery orders will be firm fixed price. TheGovernment will select for award(s) the proposal(s) which represent the BestValue to the Government.

Potential Offerors are invited to participate in a question and answer forum with IC personnel, focusing on the IC DRAFT RFP. This Q&A forum will providean opportunity for potential Offerors to ask questions prior to the release ofa final solicitation. Offerors shall submit questions electronically no laterthan March 10, 2011, to Peter Snedeker, contact information is provided end ofthis announcement. It is anticipated that questions submitted will be postedon FedBizOpps along with corresponding answers. In addition, an Industry Daywill be hosted for further clarification.

Industry day is scheduled for March 30, 2011. Only interested parties withinthe Small Arms Industry will be granted admittance. This date and informationis subject to change: please monitor FedBizOpps frequently for any schedulechanges. The format of the Industry Day will consist of a presentation by theGovernment with a written question and answer session following (restrictionswill apply). The meeting will be held at:

Comments/Questions regarding the Draft RFP submitted after Industry Day willnot be addressed. Interested parties should contact Peter Snedeker no laterthan March 17, 2011, to register for the event. Hotel reservations should bebooked directly with the hotel.

Note: No information exchanged with industry will be considered in theevaluation process. Offerors are directed not to submit proposals at thistime.

In addition, this announcement serves as notification that export controlprocedures regulated by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)are in effect. The DRAFT Purchase Description AR-PD-173 Attachment 0009 hasbeen marked Distribution D. Offerors that are interested in receiving thisdocument must be in compliance with ITAR and possess the proper authorizationto receive this technical data.

AR-PD-173 is marked distribution statement D – DISTRIBUTION STATEMENTAUTHORIZED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) AND U.S. DOD CONTRACTORS ONLY.

AR-PD-173 will be available upon request, provided that all necessary paperwork is properly completed by the requester, submitted, and approved prior toany release. In order to process a request for the drawing package or otherinformation each requester (U.S. & Canada) must complete and submit thefollowing forms:

Foreign Vendors Contractors shall comply with all applicable laws andregulations regarding export-controlled items, including, but not limited to,the requirement for Contractors to register with the Department of State inaccordance with the ITAR. The Contractor may consult with the Department ofState regarding any questions relating to compliance with the ITAR and mayconsult with the Department of Commerce regarding any questions they may haverelating to compliance with the Export Administration Regulation (EAR).Please reference the following link consulting these regulationshttp://www.pmddtc.state.gov/regulations_laws/itar.html

The Contractor’s responsibility to comply with all applicable laws andregulations regarding export-controlled items exists independent of, and isnot established or limited by, the information provided above.

This is a special notice only and is for planning purposes only. THIS IS NOTA FINAL SOLICITATION AND DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A FINALSOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO REIMBURESE ANY PARTICPATINGCONTRACTORS FOR ATTENDANCE AT INDUSTRY DAY.

The DRAFT RFP is an attachment that can be found on Procnet http://procnet.pica.army.mil/
Additional Info:
US ARMY TACOM-Picatinny Procurement Network
Contracting Office Address:
US Army, Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000
Point of Contact(s):
Peter Snedeker, Contract Specialist, (973)724-4009

U.S. Army Issues New “Individual Carbine” Draft RFP (Request For Proposal): How will the Army’s Next Carbine Improve on the Colt M4/M4A1 Carbine, and will it still be an AR? DR has some ideas…
by David Crane

About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.